Job Description:

Youth Employment Counselor (Career Placement Counselor) 2 Openings Available; MCCC/MTA Unit Professional Position; 37.5 hours per week; Pay grade 3; Grant funded. This position is located at the MassHire Merrimack Valley Career Center in Lawrence.

Position Summary:

The Youth Employment Counselor works with career center customers between the ages of 18 - 24 to help them identify and embark upon a career pathway that will lead to stable employment in a demand industry that offers potential for advancement. The individual in this position must possess knowledge of the developmental needs of individuals in this age range and strategies to support their success; including appropriate levels of empathy and flexibility balanced with structure and guidance. Position entails outreach and recruitment, assessment and eligibility determination, career counseling, support with training and/or post-secondary education program selection and enrollment, administrative procedures to secure training funding for individuals, case management, job search and placement support, follow-up, and service and activity tracking in the state database. The Youth Employment Counselor will provide workshops and information sessions and conduct math and reading assessments. Position will focus on the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program, but may provide services for other specially funded youth initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Reporting to the Career Center Assistant Director, the Youth Employment Counselor will be responsible for but not limited to:

1. Work with area school systems and community agencies to identify and recruit eligible youth.
2. Develop recruitment strategies and materials.
3. Provide in-depth information regarding the full array of available services, including online, workshops, job development/placement, work readiness, and counseling.
4. Determine youth's suitability and eligibility for program participation. Verify all documents/records to ensure appropriate and thorough documentation and recordkeeping for monitoring and compliance with the DOL regulations and agency policies and procedures. Create and maintain youth case files with all required documentation.
5. Administer required Basic English Skills Tests, Test for Adult Basic Education, WorkKeys, achievement tests, as well as other skills and vocational aptitude assessments and tests.
6. Conduct comprehensive assessment for each participant. This assessment includes review and analysis of information obtained through records, tests and interviews to appraise work history, transferable skills, educational background, interests, aptitudes, abilities, personal characteristics, and consideration of labor market information.
7. In collaboration with the youth and based on results of comprehensive assessment, develop a career action plan that outlines services, including, but not limited to, education and training, that will lead to achievement of the youth's employment goal. The career plan must be documented in the state database.
8. As a component of the career planning process, complete and update regularly the required youth Individual Service Strategy (ISS) for each participant which documents strengths, challenges, short- and long-term goals, program elements, and youth and counselor agreements.
9. Conduct counseling interviews to provide guidance, identify solutions to real or perceived barriers to employment, and suggest approaches to assist participants to achieve goals.
10. Perform ongoing and appropriate case management of caseload. Interaction with assigned participants must occur at least every 30 days, but should be more often, to provide required support, to determine progress toward achieving goals, and to enable proactive problem-solving.
11. Provide individual instruction on job search methods.
12. Conduct job readiness workshops and other group services.
13. Maintain liaison with public and private organizations, including WIOA partner organizations and community organizations, to promote programs and services, exchange information and develop the resources necessary to provide high quality services.
14. Provide supportive service information to assist youth with barriers to employment.
15. Complete supportive service request forms accurately and in a timely fashion.
16. Gain and utilize knowledge of available community resources to support and stabilize customer's current situation, including but not limited to housing, access to food support, WIC, financial literacy support, transportation, and other assistance.
17. Work closely with career center recruiters and business service representatives to facilitate referral of youth participants to employment opportunities that match career pathway goals.
18. Maintain and document all services and notes in the Massachusetts One Stop Employment System (MOSES) database for monitoring review and compliance.
19. Perform related duties such as maintaining records, preparing reports and attending meetings, as required.
20. Participate in staff development and cross training opportunities that expand and support functional skills and promote professional growth.

The Classification Specification is available at: https://www.mass.edu/shared/classificationspecs/specsmccc/Career Placement Counselor - HB 1108.doc

Requirements:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in related field with two (2) years experience and/or training involving career counseling, case management, recruitment, or counseling; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Experience in a youth-serving program
• Understanding of the developmental needs of individuals in the 18-24 years age range
• Knowledge of strategies to support the career development success of youth in the target age range
• Problem-solving skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Transportation and driver's license
• Willingness to work evenings and Saturdays when needed

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred
• Familiarity with local school systems and area youth serving community agencies
• Working knowledge of social media and computer software and technology
• Experience working with and supporting a culturally diverse population.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT:

Candidates for employment should be aware that all Northern Essex Community College students, faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated by January, 2022. Accordingly, initial employment is dependent upon receipt and verification of full vaccination status records; details of how to fulfill vaccine record verification requirements will be provided during the hire and onboarding process.

Additional Information:

SALARY: Anticipated salary range is $47,597.00.00.00 to $53,228.00 annually with complete fringe benefit package. Complete fringe benefit package including competitive health insurance, dental insurance, basic life insurance, long-term disability insurance, paid sick, vacation and personal leave, educational benefits for employee/spouse/dependents, and excellent retirement benefits. Actual salary calculated in compliance with MCCC/MTA classification system. Transcripts will be required at the time of hire.

ANTICIPATED START DATE: November, 2021

Application Instructions:

TO APPLY: To be considered for this position you must submit a cover letter & resume online.

DEADLINE: October 28, 2021

Northern Essex Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, maternity leave, military service and national origin and any other protected class in its education programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statues and college policies. The College prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act and related statutes and regulations, Affirmative Action, non-discrimination policies, and Title IX compliance/sexual harassment: Assistant Director of Human Resources, Elizabete Trelegan B-219,978-556-3928/ etrelegan@necc.mass.edu. Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation or sexual violence shall be referred to the College's Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.
Prospective employees are encouraged to review the College's Annual Security Report (ASR), in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, which can be found on the disclosure page of the College's website at: http://www.necc.mass.edu/clery